Hobart International: Mertens to play Niculescu in final

Belgian qualifier Elise Mertens will play in her first WTA Tour final after a commanding 6-4, 6-0 win over Croatian Jana Fett at the Hobart International on Friday.

The 21-year-old World No.127 needed only 70 minutes to advance in a dominant display against the No. 340 Fett.

Mertens will face Romanian third seed Monica Niculescu in Saturday's final.

The World No.40 advanced after a viral illness forced Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko to withdraw before their scheduled semi-final match.